CNN Hypes Kerry Impact

Posted on Nov 3, 2006

Despite evidence to the contrary, CNN anchors and reporters repeatedly insisted the controversy surrounding John Kerry’s “botched joke” will play a major role in the upcoming election.

Media Matters:

In the wake of Sen. John Kerry’s (D-MA) October 30 remarks, which Republicans and some in the media have misrepresented in asserting that Kerry denigrated U.S. soldiers in Iraq, CNN anchors and reporters on The Situation Room, CNN Newsroom, and American Morning stated or suggested without evidence that the controversy over Kerry’s remarks will have an impact on the midterm elections, despite the fact that Kerry is not up for re-election nor running for any other elected position.

In a November 2 analysis of a Democracy Corps poll conducted October 29 through November 1, the Democratic polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner stated that the responses during the final day in which the poll was in the field, which came “after two news cycles of Kerry stories,” showed that the stories produced no difference in respondent opinions from the previous two days, and that the controversy over Kerry’s remarks “has not helped Republicans,” and that “independents show no interest in it.” The poll, conducted in the 50 most competitive congressional districts currently held by Republicans, found that respondents favored named Democratic candidates/incumbents over named Republican candidates/incumbents 51 percent to 44 percent.

Even before any poll was released, however, CNN was promoting the Kerry remarks as a major factor in the election…